Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-23
CHAPTER XIV.

I gave one cry as l found myself in
the darkness and then felt my way up
the ladder out of that dreadful cellar
into the store-room above. l closed
the trap door, CROPPED my way to tho
passage. locked the store-room and
then crept slowly along until l reached
the great baize covered door which
swung open to my push. Never did I
feel more devoutly thankful than when
I found myself in the lighted hall.
On the table beside me lay an envel-
ope addressed in Mrs. Manners hand
writing, to '.Miss Christie. The AID
ers," which lay ON the table beside me.
I tore it open. and scarcely glancing at
her kind little note saying that she had
received the inclosed when she called
at the Beaconsburgh post-office that
afternoon. pressed Laurence's letter to
my lips again and again before I
opened it 1t said:
mice. Friday.
mt OWE SWEET vIoLEz.-I had hoped 70
una Letter from you waiting for me on my
your fault that am disappointed, even II
vii never doubt Tiny darling again. Ihave had
the battle with my mother prematurely, and
gained the victory. l intended, a. you know,
herself hurried the denOuenscnt. We broke the
journey at Paris, stopping there last night
As soon as We got there, opened my writing
S isst an ana wrote a, tiny note to my darling
thing to eat, with my letter closed up and d.
rected to you on the table, ready to be in
r w ss naG e SSS
my letter and was reading it. Then We had a
scene. l asked for my letter. and she tore It
4 ho f3ro-n loco until
words about you that sent my forbearance to
the winds. and told her that she was speak.
ing about my future wife.
Your future wife, answered she. draw.
ing herself up to her full height and rolling
out her voice in q way that always reduces
my father to nothingness. IS Miss Langham,
OF q eytOwers.'
~ GU have been misinfOrmed mother. In
such q matter 1t IS always best to get your
Information at first hand. Your future
daughter-in-law is Miss Violet Christie, the
most beautiful girl in Norfolk or out Of it.
Il expected lot more nonsense; but she
was so much taken bysurprise that that speech
broke the back Of the difficulty: and now,
though she receives all my attentions frgidly
she s1nF very
Is at an end. i only wish. my darling that
my promise to my father bad not prevented
ny ael ing her this while we were stu in En-
her health was nothing but trick-a plot,
for there were two in it-for getting me away
fsom you; However. | suppose l must live
promised her. She will keep me to that.
But am In fever Of anxiety about you.
And l entreat you to comply with this my
earnest. solemn request: Don't trust your
ietters 70 any ono to pOst-don't even post
them yourself-but give them to my youngest
sister. to send on to me. She teaches in the
eunday-school. Get Mrs. Manners TO send
you up to the Hall ON some pretext on Sun.
DAY; get Maud alone, and you will find she
VIII 90 what you ask Tell her to remember
Dor Last promise to mo In the conservatory,
and III remember mine.
Keep this letter where no one can get IT.
not IN desk-if you don't tear 1t up. / feel
already such hunger for q sight Of your
oweet faoe-I can't think OF the touch OF your
the tears rising to my eyes. I think / must
jump into the sea II l can not and some
means q getting back to you sooner. Good.